Ladder



April 20, 1926. 1,582,017

H. M. VETTERLEIN LADDER Filed July 29, 1924 INVENTOR H EN EY M.VETTERLElN 0 ATT EYV Patented Apr. 20, 1926.

HENRY M. VETTERLEIN,

0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO HENRY PENN BURKE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LADDER.

Application filed July 1924. Serial No. 728,840.

To alZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY M. VETTER- LEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ladders, of which the following is a specification. I

The object of my invention is to provide a ladder of novel construction employing wooden, upright rails and transverse, step bars formed of sheet metal, which shall be inexpensive, strong and durable.

The invention aims to provide a ladder which may be constructed by unskilled persons from upright rails and step bars formed in accordance with my invention; and the parts of which may be readily disassembled, reassembled, and substituted for like parts in constructing other ladders.

With the foregoing and related objects in view, my invention consists of the elements and the combinations of them hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention,

Figure 1 is a front view of a portion of a ladder embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section thereof, on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the ladder on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is an end view of one of the step bars, enlarged.

Figure 5 is a front form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section ofthe modified form, on line 66 of Fig. 5.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, 4 designates two spaced parallel, upright rails which may be formed of any suitable material, preferably wood, and which, as herein illustrated, are rectangular in cross section.-

5 designates the step bars, each of which is formed of sheet metal and comprises an elongated body portion 7 having flanges or ribs 8 formed on the longitudinal edge portions thereof, and having projections 9 formed thereon, the body portion 7, flanges or ribs 8 and projections 9 all heingformed of a single blank of sheet metal.

In forming the flanges or ribs 8 the longi tudinal edge portions of the blank from which the bar is formed are bent, at 10, to

View of a modified extend forwardly from the body portion 7, extend toward each other,

bent, at 11, to and bent, at 12, to extend back toward the body portion and to diverge from each other, as clearly shown in the drawings, providing strong stiffening flanges or ribs for the body portion, which will resist strain in all di-f rections.

The projections 9 are struck from the body portion 7 and bent to extend rearwardly therefrom in'parall'el and spaced relation to each other and at right angles to the longitudinal stiffening flanges or ribs 8.

The body portion 7 and the projections 9 are provided with holes or openings 18 and 14, respectively, for the reception of fastening devices for rails 4, as will be presently described.

The projections 9 of the step bars 5 serve as s )acers for the rails 4 while the parts of the adder are being assembled, and, thereafter, they retain the rails in' spaced parallel relationship; of the body portions 7 of the bars 5 engaging the forward surfaces of the rails 4 hold the parts firmly together and. prevent for ward or backward displacement of the rails 4 relatively to each other from their parallel relationship. I i I Any suitable fastening securing the'step bars 5 to the' and the rearward surfacesdevices may be employed to secure the step bars5 and the rails 4 together. For this purpose, as herein illustrated, I employ lag screws 15 which penetrate the body portion 7 and projections 9 through the openin 's 13 and 14 therein, respectively, and which are screwed into the rails 4, as shown in the drawing. These screws 15 may be readily removed without injury'to the parts of the ladder when it is desired to disassemble them.

The rails 4 may be of any desired length and any desired number ofthe step bars 5 may be employed to provide a ladder of any desired length.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6, I employ a single, rail 16 and step bars 17 having the central portions of the body portions thereof engaged withthe forward surface of the rail central located upright and their projections 18 'are secured to the rail 16 by lag screws 19. The longitudinal edge portions of the bars 17 have upper and lower stiffening flanges 20 and 21 formed thereon, and the outer end portions of the lower flanges 21 diverge upwardly toward the outer ends of the upper flanges 20 to strengthen the outer or free end portions of the bars 17.

I claim as my invention 1. In a ladder, an upright rail, a step bar extending transversely thereof and comprising an elongated body portion formed of sheet metal and seated against the forward surface of the rail, and having a forwardly extending stiffening flange formed on one of its longitudinal edge portions and having a projection bent to extend rearwardly from the body portion and engaging one of the lateral surfaces of the rail, and fastening devices penetrating the body portion of the bar and the projection and entering the rail and securing them together.

2. In a ladder, an upright rail, a step bar extending transversely thereof and comprising an elongated body portion formed of sheet metal and seated against the forward surface of the rail, andhaving a forwardly extending stiffening flange formed on one of its longitudinal edge portions and having a projection struck from the body portion of the bar intermediate its ends and intermediate its longitudinal edges and extending rearwardly from the body portion and engaging one of the lateral surfaces of the ail, and fastening devices penetrating the body portion of the bar and the projection and entering the rail and securing them together.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature hereto.

HENRY M. VETTERLEIN. 

